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Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Mithrandir on 9/6/2024, 2:36 pm

I know that 'difficult' is subjective and each campus is going to be different, but is band the most (or one of the most) difficult activities on your campus?
Don't get me wrong I do think that there are difficult parts to many activities and academics. But is it easier to "pass" an EOC or earn a 1 at UIL? I'm not trying to insult classroom teachers I sure don't want to teach math.
I was thinking about this because one of my students was telling me how hard and how fun (marching) band is. And I said yes it is hard, but that's what makes it fun. Maybe that's lost now on a majority of students (and parents)?
Just some musing before a long bus ride for football.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Yes- on 9/10/2024, 7:54 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

You have to convince teenagers and their parents to report to school during the summer to begin summer band; spend time outside in the heat, cold, rain, and wind; wake up early and get home late; parents have to pick up their kids around midnight for football games; give up every Saturday in October; and do well in all their advanced classes. It’s much easier to do e sports and other activities. With all the other offerings today, band only appeals to a certain type of kid/parent.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Mostly on 9/11/2024, 5:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

You just described every athlete who is also training all summer or playing on a traveling team. Those parents spend a lot of $$ and spend a lot of time evenings and weekends at tournaments (Baseball, Softball, Volleyball). Some of those athletes are also smart kids taking the AP classes and such. We sometimes want to talk about dumb athletes but some sports, (tennis, golf, swimming) often attract the same smart kids that band does.

When school starts up remember some of your band kids are also athletes so not only are they doing everything you described they also have other things, (volleyball kids playing on Tuesdays, Basketball kids playing on Tuesdays and Fridays).

Yes, band is very hard and one of the best compliments I ever got from an AP was when he realized band never had an off-season, just a different season. Football ends. Band transitions and he was amazed. In that regard, yes, it is absolutely one of the hardest activities on campus but don't doubt those kids that get athletic scholarships are working just as hard sometimes, it just looks different.

At times I think band was harder on me than the kids because I transitioned, they sometimes slowed down. Marching band ends. Unless the kids are in Winter Drumline or Winter Guard their schedule eases up. But the band director's doesn't because we are doing 4 days a week of sectionals. Sure, we were doing 4 days a week of marching band but now the kids are doing 1 day instead of 4 with us.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by My Take on 9/10/2024, 7:44 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Anything done at a high level is hard. There are schools that have very high academic standards and are extremely competitive in that area.

That being said, you can pass an EOC with a 70% or adhering to a certain scoring criteria. If you did band with a 70%...well...you have probably all seen the everyone gets an A video.

In the age of instant gratification anything that requires effort is almost ran away from. Luckily, things like Marching Band teach this skill along with all of the other things.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by No on 9/9/2024, 7:17 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Making a 4 or 5...now THAT is hard! I mean a director has to REALLY work to make a 4 or 5!

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Inner-City BD II on 9/9/2024, 8:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Pick a show that relies on a strong trumpet section. Have half the section fail due to one teacher refusing to put in grades, then have the soloist get jumped by another kid in math class two days prior to UIL, so they spend a week in ISS. Make your fourth-best trumpet player learn a solo in two days because of it.

Or, another year, have your drum major and cross country kid get literally mauled by a stray dog at cross country practice and require reconstructive facial surgery.

I know of a large urban ISD program that had no practice field of any kind due to renovations. No parking lot on campus able to be used, no functional athletic fields on the campus. Nearest option is three miles away. But they were required to march.

This one happened to me for concert evaluation. Was doing a piece with a trumpet solo. Trumpet soloist was also on the track team - it had been incredibly rainy that year. The track coach found a rescheduled track meet on the day of UIL and mandated all track athletes run, or they wouldn't be allowed to run at regionals. Kid was pursuing a track scholarship (which they achieved) but I was out my soloist because the coach wouldn't budge, and admin was a former coach and so backed them 100%.

Plenty of situations happen to our inner city friends. 4s don't always happen there because of bad teaching. There's often things well outside a director's control.

I'd go so far as to say that plenty of bands earn 4s because of their directors, but plenty more earn them in spite of their directors. And all of the judgmental suburban directors who have never faced the every-day situation that rural directors and urban directors do should walk a mile in someone else's shoes before they throw shade.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Houston Area BD on 9/9/2024, 7:03 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Yes. Start making a list of the brain processes required to complete one minute of the marching show and you'll have your answer.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Nick on 9/7/2024, 9:22 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Yes. It usually costs the students more (or close to) any other activity. We actually hold the kids accountable for everything they do. It is absolutely easier to pass an EOC exam over learning an instrument to a high level.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by philosopher on 9/7/2024, 7:30 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

I think marching band is harder than football because in football the players can breathe all they want to. In marching band breathing is restricted except for percussion players.

Regarding your comment "I sure don't want to teach math".
TMEA celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1974 and their 100th anniversary in 2020. What does this mean? It demonstrates that TMEA does not stand for Texas Math Educators Association.

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Clmo on 9/30/2024, 7:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

Hahaha!

Re: Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?

Posted by Hmm on 9/7/2024, 1:01 am, in reply to "Is Band the most difficult activity on campus?"

It is easier to pass EOC because simply passing EOC is not equivalent to a 1 at UIL. Compare rop marks in EOC to a 1 for a fairer judgement.

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